Lock



Aug. 28, 1934. K. A. BRAUNING LOCK Filed Aug. 16, 1930 may INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1934 PATENT orrics LOCK Karl A. Brauning, Stamford, Conn., assignmto The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company,

Stamford, Conn.

Application August 16, 1930, Serial No. 475,714

27 Claims.

This invention relates to cylinder plugs, and especially to plugs of the type utilizing pin tumblers for locking the plug relatively to the cylinder in which it is mounted.

In cylinder locks of the general pin tumbler type, the locking of the plug is controlled by a spring pressed pin called a driver, and a second pin called a tumbler which is key operated. Locks of this type are rather expensive to assemble because both the cylinder and plug must be set up simultaneously. It is the object of this invention to devise a cylinder plug employing pin tumblers in which only tumblers contained within the plug itself are used, so that the plug, alone, may be set up and then inserted as a unit into the cylinder.

It is a further object of my invention to devise a plug in which the tumblers and springs are inherently retained within the plug, due to the manner in which the plug and tumblers are designed.

This is an advance over pin tumbler locks of the prior art in which pins mounted in the plug alone were used. In those locks means not integral with the plug were used to maintain the springs and tumblers mounted within the plug. In general,

this invention is an improvement over the type of lock disclosed in the Croning Reissue Patent Other objects of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the specification in conjunction with the drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a top view of my particular plug. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the plug. Fig. 4 shows two views of the plug along the section 4-4 of Fig. l,'showing the means for assembling '35 the tumbler and springs within the plug. Figs.

4A and 4B are sectional views taken respectively along the lines AA and B-B of the top figure of Fig.4. Fig. 5 shows two sections illustrating modifications of the invention of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Fig. 6 is a partial section showing modified means for mounting the springs within the plug. Fig. '7 is a section along the line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front, elevation, and rear view of a further modification of my invention. Figs. 9 and 10 are views along section 99 of Fig. 8 and show the method of assembling the tumblers and springs in the plugs of that modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawa ing and especially Figs. 1 to 4. I will describe a preferred embodiment of my invention. The plug 10 may be equipped with a series of transversebores 11 adapted to house the main leg portions 12 of the tumblers therein. The plug is further equipped with an opening 13 having parallel sides and semi-cylindrical end walls as is readily seen from a review of Fig. 4B. The upper portion of the chamber 13 is in the form of a pair of connected bores 14 and 14a, the bore 14a terminating near the periphery of the plug leaving a shoulan der portion 17 and a narrow opening 18. The bore portion 14 is allowed to go entirely through the plug as is readily seen from the drawing. The plug is equipped with a series of tumblers 12,

which are adapted to ride in the bore 11 and have a horizontal portion 16 extending over from the bore 11 across the chamber 13 into the bottom of the portion 14 of the chamber 13. The chamber 13 is formed by a core coming up through the bottom of the plug in the direction of the arrow C indicated in Fig. 4, and a second core coming down from the opposite side of the plug into a the bore 14, the two meeting and forming the chamber, as will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. The tumbler arm 16 is narrow at its middle point, so as to be able to descend into its chamber through the bore 11, the narrow portion 18 and the bore 14, as is readily understood from Figs. 1 and 4.

In assembling the tumbler and springs within the plug, the tumbler is first dropped into the plug and is prevented from falling entirely through the same by cooperation of the horizontal portion 16 with the end of the bore 14.- The tumbler spring 19 may then be dropped into the bore 14, so as to rest on top of the shoulder portion 16. The tool 20 is then utilized to compress the spring as is seen from Fig. 4, so that the upper coils of the spring will lie below the shoulders 17. The spring may then be forced in a lateral direction so as to move into the portion 14a of the chamber 13, so as to be retained therein in efiective position, over the middle portion of the horizontal arm 16.

From this final position, it will be readily understood that the tumblers will be inherently retained within the plug due to the shape of the tumbler chamber and the pressure of the spring 19. Similarly, the spring 19 will be retained, due to the fact that its expulsion in a downward direction is prevented by the arm 16 of the tumbler, while its expulsion in upward direction is prevented due to the fact that its line of pressure is along the line blocked by the shoulders 1'7, which will prevent withdrawal of the spring in that line of pressure. It will be understood further that due to the fact that the spring 15 is at the center of the horizontal tumbler portion 16, it will be directly above the point where the tumbler is actuated by a key in the keyway 21 of the plug, so as to give a smooth and direct springpressure action against the key which is used to operate the tumbler 12.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a further modification of my invention wherein two complete bores 30 and 31 are present in the plug, and wherein each tumbler comprises two full leg portions 32 and 33, secured together' by a horizontal arm portion 34. For operation in this modification, I employ a spring such as is shown in Fig. 7 equipped with coils 35 of rather large diameter at its upper extremity. It will be readily understood that once the tumbler is inserted into its chamber, the spring may be inserted into its chamber up to the point where the comparatively large coils 35 project as is seen in Fig. 7. These upper coils may then be manipulated, forced, or wound into the chamber so as to reach the left-hand position of Fig. '7, wherein the spring will be inherently retained within the plug, and due to its pressure, will retain the tumblers therein also.

In Figs. 8 to 10, I illustrate a further modification. The plug is equipped with diametric tumbler chambers 40 passing entirely through the plug on a diameter of the same. The keyway 41 is also diametrically located, but at an angle relatively to the tumbler chambers 40. For each tumbler chamber a spring chamber 42 is provided in the plug at an angle relatively to the particular chamber 40, and riding in each chamber is a spring 43.

A tumbler 44, equal in length to the diameter of the plug, rides in each chamber 40, and is actuated by a spring 43. When assembling the tumblers and springs, the springs 43 are first inserted into their chambers 42 and compressed. The tumblers 44 are then inserted into their chambers 40 until the cutout key actuated portion 45 comes opposite the end of the spring 43. Pressure of the spring 43 against the tumbler 44 will actuate the same in an outward direction. Movement of the tumbler in this outward direction is however limited, due to the fact that the upper face 46 of the cutout portion 45 abuts the middle section of the spring 43. This arrangement of the parts acts, of course, to retain the tumbler in the plug and also the spring in the plug relatively to the tumbler, due to the inherent design of the entire arrangement.

Fig. 5 illustrates two further modifications of my invention. In the left hand-drawing of Fig. 5, there is illustrated a tumbler 47 having a relatively small central cross section 48 and terminating into relatively large end sections 49 which serve as the locking tumblers and are adapted to ride in the tumbler bores 50 as is readily seen. This type of tumbler may be easily manufactured from straight round stock and bent to the particular shape shown by a simple deforming operation. The right hand drawing of Fig. 8 shows a tumbler such as illustrated in Fig. 4 but having an additional leg 51.

While I have shown several embodiments of my invention, variations of the same within the scope of the appended claims will readily occur to one skilled in the art.

I claim:-.

1. In a cylinder lock, a plug having spring and.

of pressure, said contact being operable also to retain the tumbler within said plug.

2. In a cylinder lock, a plug, said plug having a tumbler chamber and a spring chamber, a tumbler in said tumbler chamber and a spring in said spring chamber, means integral with said plug adapted to prevent removal of the spring through one end of its chamber, said spring and tumbler having contacting surfaces whereby said spring is prevented from leaving the plug through the other end of its chamber, said contact being operable also to retain the tumbler within the plug.

3. In a cylinder look, a plug, said plug having a spring chamber and a tumbler chamber, said spring chamber leading into said tumbler chamber, a spring in said spring chamber and a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, portions of said tumbler and spring being arranged angularly so as to permit pressure of the tumbler by the spring, said tumbler and spring being movable independently into their chambers, said spring being operable to retain said tumbler within its chamber, and means integral with said plug and defining said spring chamber adapted to maintain the spring within its chamber.

4. In a cylinder look, a plug, said plug having a tumbler chamber and a spring chamber, a tumbler in said tumbler chamber and a spring in said spring chamber, means integral with said plug adapted to prevent removal of the spring through one end of its chamber, and means integral with said plug adapted to prevent removal of the tumbler from one end of its chamber, said spring and tumbler having contacting surfaces whereby each is prevented from leaving the plug through the other end of its respective chamber.

5. In a one piece plug having a pair of parallel offset transverse bores, a tumbler having parallel offset portions in each of said bores and a horizontal portion joining said offset portions, 8. spring containing pocket integral with said plug and comprising a portion of one of said bores, and a spring mounted in said plug and adapted to act on said horizontal portion to eject said tumbler out of said plug, and means integral with said plug and cooperable with said horizontal portion for preventing complete ejection of said tumbler.

6. In a one piece plug having a pair of parallel ofiset transverse bores, a tumbler having parallel ofi'set portions in each of said bores and a horizontal portion joining said offset portions, 8. spring containing pocket integral with said plug and a spring mounted in said plug and adapted to act on said horizontal portion to eject said tumbler out of said plug, and means integral with said plug and cooperable with said horizontal portion for preventing complete ejection of said tumbler.

7. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a tumbler chamber and a spring chamber, a tumbler mounted in said tumbler chamber, a tumbler spring mounted in said spring chamber, said spring when inserted into its chamber being adapted to press against a portion of said tumbler to maintain said tumbler in said plug, said spring chamber being defined by means integral with said plug and adapted to maintain the spring against movement outwardly of the plug in the line of its spring pressure and in a direction opposite the direction of its pressure against said tumbler portion.

8. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a vertical tumbler chamber, a parallel vertical spring chamber, a tumbler insertible vertically into said tumbler chamber and a spring insertible horizontally into said spring chamber and acting to maintain said tumbler within the plug.

9. In a tumbler plug having a series of tumbler and spring chambers, said tumbler and spring chambers being in communication, springs and tumblers in said chambers, said springs being helically wound and adapted to press said tum blers in a locking direction on their helical axis, said spring chambers being closed against removal of the springs in their line of pressure, said springs being inserted into said chambers at an angle relatively to their direction of pressure whereby they are retained in said plug at all times.

10. In a tumbler plug having a pair of parallel transverse bores, a tumbler having parallel oilset portions in each of said bores and a horizontal portion joining said portions, a spring chamber parallel to said transverse bores, and midway of said horizontal portion, a spring in said chamber adapted to press said tumbler in an ejecting direction, means integral with said plug for limiting the ejecting movement of said tumbler, and means integral with said plug forming a self retaining chamber for said spring.

11. In a cylinder look, a plug, said plug having a pair of parallel bores, one of said bores having a relatively large opening, the other of said bores having a relatively small opening, a spring insertible into said large opening bore and movable into said smaller opening bore.

12. In a cylinder lock, a plug having a spring chamber, a bore parallel to said spring chamber and in communication with said chamber, a tumbler spring insertible into said bore and. movable horizontally into said spring chamber for retention therein.

13. In a cylinder look, a plug having a spring chamber, a coil spring adapted to operate in said spring chamber said chamber being substantially closed for removal of said spring along the line of its pressure, said plug having an entrance into said chamber for insertion of the spring on a line not in the direction of its pressure said spring being maintained thereafter within its chamber by means of said pressure.

14. In a cylinder look, a plug having a spring chamber, an entrance to said spring chamber, said entrance being relatively smaller than said chamber, and a spring forcefully inserted into said chamber for retention therein.

15. In a cylinder look a plug, said plug having a spring chamber bore, a relatively small opening for said chamber bore, a spring insertible into said chamber and having a main portion of relatively small diameter and an end portion of relatively large diameter, said small diameter portion being insertible easily into said chamber through said small opening, said larger portion being adapted to be manipulated into said chamber through said opening, whereby said spring may be retained in said chamber.

16. In a cylinder look, a plug having a spring chamber for the accommodation of a spiral spring, said chamber having a relatively small opening for the insertion of said spring, said opening being smaller than the diameter of the coils of said spring, said spring being adapted to be wound into said chamber through said smaller opening, whereby it may be retained within said plug.

17. In a cylinder look, a plug having a spring chamber, said chamber having a relatively small opening, and a spring insertible by manipulation into said chamber through said small opening, whereby it may be retained against expulsion from said chamber during normal operation of said p ug.

18. In a cylinder look, a plug having a series of diametric bores comprising tumbler chambers, said plug having a keyway arranged angularly relatively to said chambers and diametrically relatively to said plug.

19. In a cylinder look, a plug having a keyway, a series of tumbler chambers traversing said plug and arranged at an angle relatively to said keyway and in communication therewith, tumblers in said chambers, said'tumblers being of the same length as said traversing chambers, said tumblers being key operable to occupy a position entirely within the plug whereby said plug may be operated.

20. In a cylinder look, a plug having a series of diametric tumbler chambers, said plug having a diametric keyway arranged at an angle relatively to said tumbler chambers, tumblers in said chambers adapted to be spring pressed outwardly from said plug, said tumblers being of a length equal to the diameter of said plug, said tumblers being key operable to a position entirely within said diametric tumbler chambers whereby said plug may be operated.

V 21. In a cylinder look, a plug having a diametrically arranged keyway and a diametric tumbler chamber, a tumbler in said chamber, said tumbler being equal in length to the diameter of said plug, the keyway of said plug leading into said tumbler chamber, whereby a key entering said keyway will actuate said tumbler.

22. In a plug having a spring chamber and a tumbler chamber, a spring in said spring chamber and a tumbler in said tumbler chamber, means on said tumbler upon which said spring impinges to project said tumbler from its chamber, and additional means on said tumbler adapted to contact with a portion of said spring for limiting said outward projection.

23. In a one piece cylinder plug having a series of tumbler chambers and a series of spring chambers, said chambers being located on an angle relatively to one another and having related openings, tumblers in said tumbler chambers, and springs in said spring chambers, said angular relation being operative to cause said tumblers to retain the springs in their chambers while said springs retain the tumblers in their chambers.

24. In a one piece cylinder plug having a series of tumbler chambers and a series of spring chambers, said chambers having openings whereby tumblers and springs may be inserted, said openings being so arranged that said tumblers .will cooperate with the tumbler chambers to maintain the springs within their chambers while said springs act to maintain the tumblers in their chambers.

25. In a plug having a diametric bore, a tumbler mounted in said bore, said plug having a keyway leading into said bore whereby said tumbler may be key actuated, said plug also having a spring chamber whose open end leads into said tumbler bore, a spring adapted to enter said chamber through said tumbler bore prior to the insertion of said tumbler into the tumbler bore, said spring being operable to project said tumble r out of its chamber by pressing on a portion thereof, and another portion of said tumbler being adapted to cooperate with an inner portion of said spring to prevent complete ejection of said tumbler.

'26. In a cylinder look, a plug having a diametric tumbler chamber, a tumbler in said chamber,

said tumbler having a central cutout portion, a coiled spring having one end thereof pressing against one end of said cutout portion to expel the tumbler from the plug, said spring being 5 mounted at an angle to said tumbler wherebyv spring in said spring chamber adapted to press said tumbler outwardly from the plug, means in said plug permitting entrance of the tumbler into its chamber, and the spring into its chamher, said chambers being inherently arranged so that the body of the spring is positioned to obstruct outward movement of the tumbler, whereby to confine the tumbler and spring within the plug.

KARL A. BRAUNJZNG. 

